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Two priests have been removed from the Philadelphia Archdiocese following allegations of child sexual abuse. (Published Sunday, Feb 23, 2014)

Updated at 11:05 PM EDT on Sunday, Feb 23, 2014

Two priests have been removed from the Philadelphia Archdiocese following allegations of child sexual abuse.

Reverend James J. Collins, 75, and the Reverend John P. Paul, 67, are both accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old over 40 years ago. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput determined that both priests are not suitable for ministry due to the substantiated allegations, according to an Archdiocese spokesperson.

Collins was placed on administrative leave in May of last year when the allegations first surfaced. He was ordained in 1964 and had served as a faculty member at Holy Family University since 1976. He retired from his position last year.

2 Archdiocesan Priests Removed

The latest developments in the scandal surrounding the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Published Sunday, Feb 23, 2014)

The allegations against both priests were reported to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Local authorities declined to pursue criminal charges because the statute of limitations had expired, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Archdiocese Office of Investigations began their own investigation

The results of the investigation were then submitted to the Archdiocesan Professional Responsibility Review Board (APRRB), comprised of 12 men and women, both Catholic and non-Catholic, with experience in child sex abuse investigations. The group then recommended that the priests be removed and Archbishop Chaput made the final decision.

Neither Father Collins nor Father Paul will have public ministry in the Archdiocese. Both men have the right to appeal. If they don’t appeal or if an appeal is unsuccessful, they could be removed from the clerical state or “live a life of prayer and penance,” according to an Archdiocese spokesperson.

The Archdiocese have not yet revealed specific details about the accusations against the two priests or the exact day they were removed.